Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-07
THE State CAPITAL.
Senator Houston's Land Enclosure Bill
to Come u as a Special Order
in the Senate To-Day.
The Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows TO
Meet To.Day-A Difference Be-
tween tbs Senate and House.
The Third H"use Said Not to Have the
Amount of influence ThsiE Mum
Der Would Indicate.
HoUsToN's LAND BILL.

HoUsTON's LAND BILL.
Special to the Gazette,
AUSTIN, Ten, Feb. 6.-SenatOr Hous-
toms land Enclosure bill is set as a special
order for tomorrow. This bill seeks to
punish all unlawful Enclosures of the
public domain and strikes directly at the
evil that is said to exist in the Panhandle
in the attempt to enforce the lease
law. There is 8 delegation of
cattle men here, and it is natural to. ex-
pect that they will do all they can to de-
feat the bill. 1t is thought that the
friends of the bill are strong enough to
overcome any opposition that can be
brought against it. The prospects are
before it goes through.
STATUS OF THE INSURANCE BILL.
The petitions for and against Moore's
insurance bill stood three against and
two for on the morning call IN the Senate
yesterday. Senators Calhoun of Eastland,
Bell of Hamilton and Terrell pre-
sented the protests and Senator
Simkins presented two petit
tons from Corsicana in favor
of the bill. This argues that the insur-
ance men are not to have q monopoly of
the petition business hereafter, but the
people having no Hobbies at work to
counteraCt the influence of those sent here
in the interest of the insurance companies
seem determined to let the Legislature
know that the question is not as the in
surance men represent it, "like the
handle of a jug, all on one side"
1t is thought that the third house is not
having the amount of influence that their
numbers would indicate, but this is
purely matter of conjecture, and can
only be determined by the results when
the bill reaches it's final passage. The
of the bill persist in calling it
class legislation, but this can only be true
in negative sense, by considering it
in the light Of measure to regulate a
certain class Of business, and not in the
sen:e of legislating in favor of a class of
individuals.
TIE JUDGE WILLIS CASE.
This case is becoming very interesting,
not only by reason of the novel admins
tratiOn IF the laws as developed by the
evidence in the case, but because
thera is thought to be more
involved in it than appears on the sur
face. From the best information to be
gained around the departments, large
sums are due the state on leased lands
that cannot or have not been collected,
and that the truth or falsity of the charges
against Judge Willis will cut a big figure
in the premises as tOiWhether the state
can enforce these collections. The At
is making every effort to
have fair exposition of the evidence IN
the case and intends to probe it to the
bottom. The testimony so far develops
state of facts. Several of
the defendants tried in Judge
Willis court found bills of indict-
ment against themselves and then set on
the petit juries that tried their comrades
in the offense charged against them. Not
only this but the defendants were never
confronted with the witnesses for or
against them or even documentary evil
dence of guilt or innocence, but an agreed
statement was made up by the counsel in
both sides. A great many OF the de-
PENDANTS had never been arrested and put
under bond, and some were even
tried in their absence. Viewed from any
standpoint, it presents most interesting
case.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
-
teachers and friends of the system of ap-
pointlIg county superintendent of pub
lie schools, to take the place of the pres
emit system OF control of schools by county
judges, to have Mr.. MOore's educational
bill pass. This question is awakening a
deep interest among the friends Of educa-
ton, who deplore the de-
ticiencies that are too apparent
under the present law. The main object
will be to place the immediate control of
all local schools in the hands of qualified
men, who will be made to understand the
of their positions by being
subject to removal for dereliction in office,
these locator county superintendent to be
under the supervision of the Superintend-
emit of Public Instruction. Mr.. Cooper
mas great hopes if this bill ever becomes
! law.
ODD FELLOWS.
The Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows will
meet Monday noon. a few delegates
came in last night, and on increased num-
Der arrived to-day, and by the time the
lodge opens it is thought there will be a
lair representation from all subordinate
lodges.
CAPITOL SYNDICATE.
1t is probable that at an early day the
will appoint committee to
investigate the conduct and operations
generally in the matter of building the
state capitol No reflection will be cast on
the operations of the syndicate or con-
tractors by this action of the Legislature,
but many members think it is q duty they
owe their constituents, to see that the
work is being carried out according to
contract.
A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE.
There was slight difference Of opin-
ion between the Senate and the House
over the passage of bill regulating the
descent Of property as between husband
and wife. The Senate originated the bill
and passed it, and sent it the House for
the formality OF appreciation, but it
reached the House when the amendment
fever was raging and got several adden-
dums and proyisos attached to it, and
was then returned to the Senate.
One of the Senators immediately "got
on his ear" so to speak, and said she
was tired of this frivolous conduct in the
House, and did not intend to put
up with it," and asked the Sen